Kazakhstan's Ministry of Health has addressed parents whose children are starting first grade this year, as well as all parents of schoolchildren, with recommendations on the importance of sleep for the learning process. Ahead of the new school year, the ministry has published new recommendations, emphasizing the need for gradual adaptation to the school schedule, reports infohub.kz.
Experts advise not to wait for the start of classes but to shift sleep and wake-up times in advance to make the return to the school routine more comfortable. Citing the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Ministry of Health states that children of different ages need different amounts of sleep: up to 1 year — 12-16 hours per day; from 1 to 2 years — 11-14 hours; from 3 to 5 years — 10-13 hours; from 6 to 12 years — 9-12 hours; from 13 to 18 years — 8-10 hours.
Special attention is paid to parents of first-graders. "Starting first grade significantly changes a child's usual routine. A new schedule, lessons, early wake-ups, and a lot of impressions require time to adapt. Therefore, for first-graders, if the child needs it, experts recommend providing additional daytime rest of up to two hours," the Ministry stated.
All parents are advised to adjust their child's schedule in advance and without abrupt changes: maintain a routine, remove gadgets before bedtime, create an evening ritual, and prepare the room for sleep. "It's better not to 'save' on sleep. Extra classes, homework, or entertainment should not regularly cut into nighttime rest. Lack of sleep can have the opposite effect: it becomes harder for the child to concentrate, maintain attention, and work productively during the school day. That's why it's better to restore the routine before classes start, so that early rising and timely bedtime gradually become habitual," the statement reads.